Adjustable mirror support



Nov. 15, 1949 E. T. MOSBY 2,488,316

ADJUSTABLE MIRROR SUPPORT Filed July 5, 1947 Patented Nov. 15, 1949UNITED: STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE MIRROR SUPPORT Edgar T. Mosby,lvlinneapolis, Minn.

Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,127

This inventionrelates generally to improvements in rear view mirrors fortrucks and the like, and more particularly to an improved adjustablesupport for such mirrors.

The ordinary rear vision mirror as used on large trucks must besupported from the cab on a laterally out-thrust arm of sufiicientlength to allow the operator to obtain a view of the road behind pastthe side of the truck, and with sufficient adjustments to permit themirror to be adjusted to any required angle. The mirror supporting armis therefore of such length. and so located, that in' maneuvering thetruck in cramped quarters, for loading and the like, the arm all toofrequently is struck by or strikes an adjacent truck and becomes brokenor otherwise damaged. In fact there is a considerable replacementexpense'involved.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a support for this typeofmirror having a joint which will release when the arm is struck in anyway, allowing the arm to fold either forwardly or rearwardly withoutbreaking, and which joint is further so constructed that the arm may beswung back quickly to its initial position and accurately bring themirror back to its adjusted position, without further adjustment. Stillanother object is to provide a support of this character which willpermit the mirror to be swung to a folded position alongside the cab ofthe truck when not in use, and which will require no tools, replaceableshear pins or extra equipment of any kind for its operation.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed inthe course of the following specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a plan view of a mirror andsupport embodying my invention, shown on a portion of a truck cab, andindicating in dotted lines how the arm can swing either forwardly orrearwardly.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear elevational view of a portion of the armshowing the novel joint therein.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the joint.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, with the joint inreleasing position.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to thedrawing, A designates generally a supporting arm assembly by which aconventional rear view mirror B when in use is supported in laterallyout-set relation to the cab C of a truck so that the driver may obtain aview rearwardly alongside the truck body of the road behind. The mirrorB as here shown has a conouter end of the arm A, while the inner end ofthe arm has a likewise conventional pivot connection E to a bracket Fwhich is secured to the door hinge G of the cab, or otherwise firmlyanchored on the truck. The connection D and pivot E permit the mirror tobe adjusted to the required angle as will be understood, it being notedthat pivot E permits the mirror to be swung up or down.

In accordance with my invention I provide the arm A with a joint orrelease connection which is designated generally at land permits the armto swing in a substantially horizontal plane, forwardly and rearwardlyat its outer, mirror carrying end. The arm A is accordingly divided intotwo parts, comprising an inner section [I by which it is attached tothebracket F, and a considerably longer outer section I 2 whereon ismounted the mirror B. The inner section I I is provided at its outer endwith a fork l3 having upper and lower vertically spaced arms l4 and I5having vertically aligned bearing apertures [6. The inner end of theouter arm section l2 has a downwardly turned pivot finger or end I!which is rotatably mounted through these apertures Hi to thus providefor the forward and rearward swinging action of this outer portion ofthe arm previously described. As here shown this pivot end I! is formedat the extremity of a rod which is telescoped into a tubular outer partcompleting the arm, thus providing for length adjustment of the arm as awhole, and a set screw I 8 looks the parts in any adjustment as will bereadily apparent. I do not, of course, limit myself to this precisearrangement.

The pivot connection l0 further includes a strain release or indexingmechanism comprising a collar member l9 which is firmly anchored on thepivot finger I! between the fork arms I4 and I5, and which has radialundulations or spaced, upwardly rounded teeth 20 cooperating withcorresponding, downwardly punched radial teeth 2| on the upper arm I 4.An expansion coil spring 22 placed around the pivot finger I1 is bracedbetween the collar I9 and the lower arm l5 and thus normally andyieldably urges the finger upward and holds the teeth ZU-Zl in mesh asseen in Fig. 2.

It will now be understood that, should the arm A be struck, or forciblymoved from its normal out-thrust position that the teeth 20 will cam outof mesh with the teeth 2| urging the pivot finger I! downwardly againstthe tension of the spring 22 as seen in Fig. 4 and the arm may thenswing either forwardly or rearwardly to the folded positions indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. 1, without damage. When the arm is then swungback to normal position the teeth act as an index to enfore fullyillustrated and described my invention;

what I claim to be new and desire to protect b Letters Patent is:

1. A rear vision mirror assemblyxforafltruckw comprising an armadjustably mounted at one end on the truck and normally' exten'dinglaterally" outward therefrom, a mirror on the outer partof the arm, saidarm comprising inner and outer sections, a for-k on the'inner sectionof. the arm Having. upper "andflow'er portions and saidporjtions'liavinglopenings; .andaf pivot finger on the outer arm portionjournaled'throughsaidopen; ing's whereby; the outer section j of f thearm, may mm forwardly. or rearwardl'y, av collar member on tliesaidpivot finger, cooperating..index teeth on tfiecollar member and theadjacent upper portion of the fork;.and a springoneratively arranged toyieldably hold said'teeth in mesh to thereby yie1dably-ho1theouterarmsection in, an ad jfistedr pnsitidn...

2.,.A L.rean vision mirrorrassembly; fr a truck comprising ,antarmsadjustably mounted; at one end ont-the ttuck-andlnormaJly extendinglater! allya' outward tlierefrom .a.--mirror on the outer part of thearm, arm, .comprising innemand ontersections, anforks on the :inner:sectiom of the ;arm-having uppen and lower portions the outer-42mmsection being: connectedto-the inner armfisectiontbetweenzsaiduppervandclower fork 40 .1j49l3,609'

3. A rear vision mirror assembly for a truck comprising, in combination,an arm mounted at one end on the truck and normally extendinglaterally.v outward, therefrom awmirrors on the outer partiof the*arm,said arm comprising inner and outer sections, a fork on the innersection of the arm having upper and lower fork arms and said fork armshaving openings, a pivot finger onathefioutenfarm portion journaledvertically throughsaidopenings whereby the outer section oftl'ie'arm'may fold forwardly and rearwardly, a; coilarlmemberzanchored onsaid pivot finger between the fork arms and having spacedupwardlytapered teeth, ,complementary teeth on the upper fork arm andtapering downwardly to cooperate with thetetlnon' the collar' member, aspring operativelyfarranged=betweenithe'fork arms *to' iiold' theteethiin fmesli; and thecoactiflg teeth being so 'shapedithat as theouter'arnr is movedin'. either aforward or frearward direction the teethon the collar will 'slide out of meshiwith the teeth on the upper forkarm" against the tnsidnwfthespringr r 7 EDGAR; Tl MOSBYIEEFERENCESECITED I TheLfollowing referencesare of recordin the fileof:this,--patent:i I

U E Ts 'rEsrams Number Name. Date.

365,158 Van Duzer June-21,; 1887 566,521 Leger. Aug.. 25,1896 1A1 0,325Kupfrman milillfalz. .21, 1922

